Bebop Spoken There

John Donegan: ''What you take in through your ears can come out through your fingers.'' (Notes to Which Direction October, 2026)

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

19,041 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 18 years ago. 905 of them this year alone and, so far this month (Oct. 26) 84.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

From This Moment On

October.

Thu 29: Vieux Carré Hot 4 @ The Millstone, Mill Rise, South Gosforth, Newcastle. 1:00pm. Free.
Thu 29: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £5.00.
Thu 29: Castillo Nuevo Orquesta @ Pilgrim, Newcastle. £6.50. 7:30pm (doors).
Thu 29: Radio Pensacola Band @ The Blacksmith’s Arms, Hartlepool. 8:00pm. Featuring guest Jan Spencelayh.
Thu 29: Simon Taylor Band @ Newcastle Arts Centre. 7:30pm. £8.00.
Thu 29: King Bees @ The Harbour View, Roker, Sunderland. 8:00pm. Free. Superb Chicago blues band.

Fri 30: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 30: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.

Sat 31: Saltburn Big Band + Durham Alumni Big Band @ Saltburn Community Hall. 7:30pm.
Sat 31: East Coast Swing Band @ Cramlington Village Club, Park View, Cramlington NE23 6QJ. 7:30pm. £10.00. (from venue).

November

Sun 01: Smokin’ Spitfires @ The Cluny, Newcastle. 12:45pm. £10.00.
Sun 01: Ian Bosworth Quintet @ Chapel, Middlesbrough. 1:00pm. Free. Quintet w. special guest Donna Hewitt (tenor sax, clarinet)
Sun 01: Sax Choir @ The Globe, Newcastle. 2:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 01: Sarah Heneghan Trio @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.

Mon 02: Friends of Jazz @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Mon 02: Saltburn Big Band @ Saltburn House Hotel. 7:00-9:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).

Tue 03: Alan Law @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 2:00pm. Free. Alan Law (piano) w. guest tba
Tue 03: Jam session @ The Black Swan, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free. House trio: Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Abbie Finn.
Tue 03: Customs House Big Band @ The Masonic Hall, Ferryhill. 7:30pm. Free.

Monday, July 13, 2020

Liane Carroll: Livestream @ Ronnie Scott's - July 13

Liane Carroll (piano/vocals); Roger Carey (bass guitar); Dave Ohm (drums).

Like many other venues worldwide during these strange times, Newcastle's Jazz Coop and London's Ronnie Scott's are doing their best to keep live jazz available in one form or another. A common denominator linking these two venues, which are both socially and geographically distanced, is Liane Carroll.

A month ago, almost to the day, the singer/pianist played a stunning solo set from her home that was streamed via the Coop's Facebook page. Tonight she gave a trio performance streamed live from Ronnie's that must surely rank alongside some of the best gigs that that legendary club as seen and heard in recent years.

Our girl hit the deck running with an uptempo blast on It's Almost Like Being in Love - almost? I was hooked from bar 2!

From there on in, the music flowed like vintage wine from a crystal decanter served at just the correct temperature. 

You Don't Know Me (Ray Charles); My Baby Just Cares For Me /Sinner Man (Nina); Take me Home (Tom Waits); Orange Colored Sky - when it came to the Flash! Bang! Alakazam! line someone commented that it sounded like something from Harry Potter. One of the younger listeners I guess! 

All of Me; the timeless classic Skylark - Hoagy's tune enhanced by Johnny Mercer's evocative lyric - Donald Fagen's Walk Between the Raindrops; more Tom Waits - Ever Since I Put your Picture in a Frame. I didn't want this night to end ...

Caravan, knocked me out even though I'm not a fan of the tune. Like Summertime, Caravan has long been ground to dust by over excessive exposure. However, tonight it gained a reprieve thanks to some super scatting from Liane, an amazing bass guitar solo and a drummer who didn't try to be exotically clever but just kicked seven shades out of the kit which is the way drummers should treat Tizol's tune.

Liane dismissed her henchmen for a heartrending version of Joni's I Wish I Had a River. Not a dry eye in the house! Bass and drums returned for Carole King's You've Got a Friend. As instructed, we all sang along in the chorus - You just call out my name etc... Fortunately my neighbours were out ...

Many more nights like this and I'll be beginning to think that life isn't all bad!
Lance

No comments :

Blog Archive